UFC 137's Nelson says 'Cro Cop' still one of world's best but no longer intimidating

LAS VEGAS – There was a time, not all that long ago, when stepping into the cage with striking specialist Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (27-9-2 MMA, 4-5 UFC) was considered an awfully risky proposition.

But with Filipovic currently mired in 2-3 slump, the aura of invincibility that he once carried into combat no longer exists.

Nevertheless, his UFC 137 opponent, Roy Nelson (15-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC), believes Filipovic is still a worthy opponent. Sure, the losses have damaged the Croatian’s fighting reputation, but Nelson believes it’s still an honor to step in the cage against one of the sport’s all-time greats.

“As an athlete, it’s always a special fight,” Nelson told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “Anytime you can fight a legend just to say you can fight the best in the world, that’s the one thing you always take opportunities for: to go, ‘Hey, I fought the best in the world.’

“For me, I just want to fight the best in the world, and Mirko is one of the guys that I’ve always held up there as one of the guys I want to fight.”

In some ways, Nelson can probably relate to Filipovic’s position. After all, “Big Country” is trying to snap his own two-fight losing streak after dropping back-to-back decisions to Frank Mir and Junior Dos Santos. Of course, those performances were marked with a severe knee injury and a case of walking pneumonia, so perhaps they’re not the fairest measure of what Nelson has left in the tank.

“They were two different fights, two different Roys,” Nelson said. “One was a guy that didn’t throw enough punches. The other guy just hit a wall. I was just there and gave whatever I could.”

Meanwhile, Filipovic’s losses to Mir and Brendan Schaub each came via knockout. It would seem to suggest the 37-year-old kickboxer’s chin might be failing him, but Nelson doesn’t necessarily agree.

“If he had no chin, they would have knocked him out in the first round,” Nelson said. “It took them all three rounds for them to basically wait for him to make a mistake and then capitalize on it.”

But what about Filipovic’s recent lack of aggression? What about his seeming inability to evolve beyond the PRIDE wrecking machine of a bygone era into the complete package needed for success in today’s game?

Complete misconceptions, said Nelson.

“I think Mirko is probably a better fighter now on a technical aspect because he’s seen so much, so he’s definitely looking for that opportunity,” Nelson said. “He’s a very patient guy to capitalize and strike when he needs to, and that’s the one thing that scares you when the guy has more experience – somebody like a Randy Couture, where he didn’t really make his improvements until his late 30s or early 40s. The more experience you have, the further you can go in this business.

“I think when he knows the other guy can capitalize on his mistakes, he’s a little more gunshy. But everybody’s a little more gunshy when you know the other guy can hit you just as hard as you can hit them. He’s definitely fought different guys in the UFC where he’s pulled the trigger and knocked them out. It’s just when that guy’s not doing anything to make him scared or make him want to do something different, he can definitely pull the trigger and knock them out.”

In short, Nelson believes Filipovic is still capable of greatness in the octagon. That said, Nelson isn’t concerned. “Cro Cop” may have the physical tools to remain relevant in the UFC’s heavyweight division, but Nelson thinks the loss of the intimidation factor makes Filipovic an easier target.

“‘Cro Cop’ is still the same guy from four or five years ago,” Nelson said. “He’s just doesn’t have that aura around him where you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s going to kill me,’ – where you’re already defeated before you go in there. That’s where a lot of guys used to get defeated.”

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.